Corpus: Greater palatine nerve

The greater palatine nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve (V2) that arises from the pterygopalatine ganglion.

The greater palatine nerve travels downward in the greater palatine canal to the palate, which it reaches through the greater palatine foramen. Here, it divides into smaller branches that spread throughout the tissue of the hard palate. Anteriorly, these branches communicate with the nasopalatine nerve.

Within the canal, it gives off posterior inferior nasal branches to the nasal cavity, supplying the inferior nasal concha (turbinate).

Parasympathetic fibers from the greater petrosal nerve and sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve join the greater palatine nerve at the pterygopalatine ganglion.

The greater palatine nerve provides sensory innervation to the oral mucosa of the hard palate and the palatal gingiva of the upper jaw.